https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz An autobiography by Mike Tyson en-us 2023-03-26 20:53:05 UTC 2025-12-01 20:42:05 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f94a.png zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532042341 Mike Tyson was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1966, and grew up in a tough neighborhood plagued by poverty and crime. Due to this, Tyson was involved in petty crimes and struggled with bullying. He spent his adolescent years with his mom and siblings; knowing little about his father.

Quote 1 "One day my brother and I even got robbed right in front of our apartment building. We used to watch these guys shooting it out with one another it was like something out of an old Edward G. Robison movie." (16)]]> 2023-03-26 20:54:18 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532042341 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532042983 Tyson grew up around a lot of violence including his mothers harsh relationships. He witnessed her being abused by several of her boyfriends and this held a high impact on his view of relationships and violence as a young child ]]> 2023-03-26 20:55:51 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532042983 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532043319 As a child, Tyson turned to crime as a getaway from all his traumatic experiences. In the Spring of 1974, Tyson started working with a group of boys when they tried to rob him; they grew a liking to him, and he started working with them in robberies and made him take care of pigeons.  

Quote 2 "All day I chased the birds, but I thought that was pretty fun. I liked being around the birds, I even liked going to the pet store to buy their seed. And these guys were tough guys and they kind of liked me for being their gofer." (21)]]> 2023-03-26 20:56:34 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532043319 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532044106 Since Mike was a minor he wasn't sent to Jail for his crimes. Eventually, the city got tired of him constantly causing trouble and sent him to the state reformatory. There he describes the harsh conditions, and the violence he would experience. He also would get his first experience of boxing there.

Quote 3 "I threw up everything I had eaten for the last two years. What the [expletive] was that? I was thinking. I didn't know anything about boxing then. Now I know that if you get hit in the stomach you're just going to lose your breath for a couple of seconds, but it comes back." (42)]]> 2023-03-26 20:58:09 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532044106 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532044528 After Mike's first fight, his friend he met at the Reformatory introduced him to now-famous boxing trainer Cus D'Amato. Mike always struggled with controlling his anger and Cus taught him to direct that anger toward boxing which brought attraction to the sport for Mike. Cus was very impressed with Mike's performance and taught him the principles of boxing. 

Quote 4 "Cus wanted the meanest fighter that God ever created, someone who scared the life out of people before they even entered the ring. He trained me to be totally ferocious, in the ring and out. At the time, I needed that." (53) ]]> 2023-03-26 20:59:06 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532044528 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532045117 Mike moved in with Cus to start training more. Mike looked up to Cus with lots of respect and appreciated everything Cus was doing for him. Cus knew Mike was Prodigy and was ready to work Mike past his limits. ]]> 2023-03-26 21:00:07 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532045117 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532046596 Tyson was 14 years old he built up his reputation as a street fighter in Brooklyn. However he never actually fought in the ring before. His trainer had been preparing him for months. Tyson was really intimidated and overthinking the fight until he remembered what he was taught by Cus. Tyson's opponent Nelson Cuevas was taller and more experienced than him. However, Tyson managed to shock everyone but his trainer and knock him out.

Quote 5 "We fought hard for two rounds, but then in the third round I knocked him into the bottom rope and followed with another shot that literally knocked his mouthpiece six rows back into the crowd. He was out cold." (68)]]> 2023-03-26 21:00:56 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2532046596 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2533571357 2023-03-27 18:27:34 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2533571357 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2533579864 2023-03-27 18:34:16 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2533579864 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540330238 After Mike's first professional fight, he was later suspended from high school for smacking a teacher that threw a book at him. His trainer Cus D'Amato took mike to the school to talk with the principal and teacher. They argued and agreed that mike would have to get a tutor at home.]]> 2023-03-31 21:38:28 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540330238 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540338937 Mike's mom was diagnosed with cancer and her condition deteriorated quickly. Tyson never dealt with something like this and couldn't bear to see his mom in that condition. When he went to see her at the hospital he saw she was in pain and tucked her in and kissed her. He believed he would be able to say goodbye in her last moments not knowing it didn't work like that. He noticed her unconscious then left and never came back not being able to handle the pain of seeing her like that. When she passed he was notified by his sister when she got angry at him for not telling her about the death because mike told her he would visit her every day since she couldn't. 

Quote 6 "Then one day my sister came home. I was hungover, but I heard her key in the door, so I opened it and as soon as it swung open, POW, she punched me right in the face. "Why did you do that?" I said. "Why didn't you tell me Mommy was dead?" she screamed. I didn't want to say "I didn't go to the hospital. It was too painful to see mom a shell of her old self" because my sister would have killed me" (84) R.I.P Lorna]]> 2023-03-31 21:59:27 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540338937 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540352091 One day after experiencing his first two losses in boxing, Cus had a talk with Mike saying that he wish Mike was more intimidating like other professional boxers this really got to Mike's head but he never mentioned it to Cus. Trying to sound arrogant Mike told Cus to not worry and to watch "one day the whole world will be afraid of me." (97) According to Mike that was the day he became "100%" Iron Mike; before that day he wasn't emotionally invested in boxing, after that he became a savage.]]> 2023-03-31 22:36:51 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540352091 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540363887 On June twentieth, when Mike was almost 19 and had his license he fought his first professional fight outside of Brooklyn against unbeaten Ricky Spain In Atlantic City. They introduced Mike as "the Baby Brawler" in that fight, he proved the name a joke by knocking down Ricky Spain twice in the same fight. Cus scolded Mike for fighting in a South Paw stance that fight.]]> 2023-03-31 23:12:34 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540363887 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540377940 As mentioned before, Cus D'Amato had been Mike's trainer since he was 12. He was a legendary boxing trainer who had a profound impact on the sport and the fighters he trained. He had been Mike's mentor and father figure throughout Mike's adolescent years guiding him to become fearsome and one of the most successful boxers of all time. D'Amato's health began to decline sometime not mentioned until he surprised Mike in the hospital. As days passed, Mike helplessly had to wait for the ultimate news of his beloved trainer's death.  

Quote 7 "I don't want to do this [expletive] without you," I said, choking back tears. "I'm not going to do it." "Well, if you don't fight, you'll realize that people can come back from the grave, because I'm going to haunt you for rest of your life." I told him "Okay," and then he took my hand. "The world has to see you, Mike. You're going to be champ of the world, the greatest out there," he said." (107) R.I.P D'Amato]]> 2023-03-31 23:55:48 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540377940 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540380307 2023-04-01 00:03:44 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540380307 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540385743 Mike continued to win many fights, and he would bring a picture of Cus everywhere he'd go. He would talk to the picture of Cus before every fight. Mike lost all ambition and interest for boxing. Mike responded to his adoptive mother who lived with Cus, Camille when she asked "How did you make out?" and Mike responded "I made out good, but I was looking for somebody who wasn't there." (110) ]]> 2023-04-01 00:20:00 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540385743 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540390876 Mike recalls an experience he had while training for a fight in the Catskill Mountains with his trainer and mentor, Cus D'Amato. While running in the woods, Tyson encountered a group of young men who were taunting him and his trainer. Despite D'Amato's advice to ignore them, Tyson confronted the group and a fight ensued. Tyson quickly realized that he was outnumbered and outmatched, but he refused to back down and fought until he was eventually knocked out. The experience taught Tyson an important lesson about pride and humility and avoiding pointless confrontations if possible.]]> 2023-04-01 00:35:01 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540390876 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540393499 ​Mike Tyson returns to Albany to visit his old friends and give back to the community after becoming a famous boxer. During his visit, Tyson realizes that many of his old friends have continued to fall on hard times, and some are still involved in criminal activities. Despite their struggles, Tyson is happy to see his friends again and enjoys reminiscing about old times. However, he also realizes that he has outgrown his old life and that his success as a boxer has blessed him with opportunities that his friends never had.

Quote 8 "People who didn't know me would make a big deal about me going back to Brownsville and giving my money away. But it wasn't like that. People who came from where I had come from had a responsibility to take care of their friends even if it was twenty years later." (130)]]> 2023-04-01 00:42:57 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540393499 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540394975 While Tyson was still dealing with difficult emotions after many events he did what he stated as the "last thing he should have done" and got married. He got Married to Robin Givens because she was pregnant and he was very excited to become a father. The problem was she was lying and so was her mom she wasn't really pregnant.]]> 2023-04-01 00:47:26 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540394975 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540402595 ​Mike got mad at his ex wife and recounts a car crash he had in his Lamborghini. He planned on hitting a tree for attention to show his ex wife all the pain she made him feel. The impact was so severe that the car split in half and Tyson was thrown through the windshield. Despite the severity of the crash, Tyson was able to recover and return to boxing.

Quote 9 "Because I had lost consciousness for a while, Camille called an ambulance and they took me to the local Catskill hospital. Somebody must have called Robin because while I was settling into my hospital room, eating some take-out Chinese food that I had Jay bring me, Robin rushed in, followed by camera crews and another ambulance. She was going to save the day-in time for the five o'clock news. "See what the [expletive] you made me do?" I snarled at her."

]]> 2023-04-01 01:09:34 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540402595 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540435373 ​Mike had a significant experience with drugs during his career as a professional boxer. He became addicted to cocaine, which affected his training and performance in the ring. One incident he described was when he was high on cocaine during a training session and ended up fighting one of his sparring partners, causing serious injuries. This experience made Tyson realize the destructive effects of drug addiction and motivated him to seek help and overcome his addiction.]]> 2023-04-01 02:33:55 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540435373 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540436961 ​Tyson, Mike had a realization about retirement during a trip to Paris with his wife. He realized that retirement didn't mean sitting on the beach and doing nothing, but rather pursuing new passions and interests. This led him to start a new chapter in his life by pursuing new hobbies, which he never had the time to explore during his boxing career. He also began to focus on his family and personal relationships, realizing that these were the most important things in his life. Overall, the experience taught him that retirement was not an end, but rather a new beginning.]]> 2023-04-01 02:38:06 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540436961 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540445292 ​Tyson finds new purpose in his life through his family and spiritual journey. He is Muslim now and works to overcome his past mistakes, including making amends with people he has wronged. He also becomes a successful businessman and entertainer, with a one-man show and appearances in movies and TV shows. Overall, the end of Undisputed Truth shows Tyson's journey towards redemption and finding peace in his life after a huge and controversial career in boxing.

Quote #10 "I can't help anyone if I'm not well myself, and I desperately want to get well. I have a lot of pain and I just want to heal. And I'm going to do my best to do just that. One day at a time."]]> 2023-04-01 02:59:59 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540445292 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540449634 ​Tyson, Mike, and Larry Sloman. Undisputed Truth. Blue Rider Press, 2013.

]]> 2023-04-01 03:13:09 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540449634 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540453680 2023-04-01 03:26:02 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540453680 zacarseb000 https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540454266 2023-04-01 03:27:52 UTC https://padlet.com/zacarseb000/bp2a91vvqdmuugmz/wish/2540454266